14th January 2002

FoE expects Cabinet to protect Kalkara Valley

The irony behind the Kalkara valley issue is that the zone earmarked for development enjoys stunning views of Valletta. While empty houses in Valletta create this skyline, speculators are more then pleased to exploit one of the few remaining open spaces in the South of Malta.

Apparently, a few years before this issue was made public, one of the developers was shrewd enough to convert a small farmhouse into a villa. The PA should have never approved the permits for this house and yet the PA is now justifying the new development on the basis of this decision.

FoE Malta is concerned about the way the PA is functioning. One would wonder who the “organic experts” were in this case, and how their “hydrology expert” could agree with the PA’s statement that the lower parts of the valley would remain untouched when, if the nature of the valley catchment area is changed through development, the hydrology and ecology of the valley bed is automatically disrupted. Increased built up area on the valley sides would result in increased water runoff, increased soil erosion and negatively affect the ecology of the valley. This is already affecting the residents living close to the church who experience heavy flooding after it rains.

The fact that the area surrounding the land of proposed development is built up is no good excuse to spoil the rest of the valley. This is a dangerous tactic that has been used before to deprive the country of its natural environment.

FoE (Malta) disapproves of the PA’s decision to develop part of the valley, especially since no Environmental Impact Assessment was carried out. This clearly shows lack of environmental commitment from the Authority. On the other hand, the government has promised its support for the environment and hopefully the decision to be taken in Cabinet will back these words. As they say, the proof is in the pudding.